Local eateries get into Super Bowl shuffle

Best Bartender 2009 | Billy Woodmansee, Fired Up Gril

Billy Woodmansee was a double \"Best of 2009\" winner, capturing the \"Best Customer Service\" category for his work as a trainer at Pro Edge Performance and \"Best Bartender\" for his work at Fired Up Grill.

Super Bowl XLIV is fast approaching, and while beer companies have millions of dollars to spend on halftime, most viewers don’t. Whether getting eats for a house party or going out to watch it on 30 televisions, here are a few local options to help avoid turning over too much cash.

CK’s Tavern and Grill

4142 E. Chandler Blvd.

(480) 706-5564

Food Specials

-$6.50 Johnsonville brat baskets with chips

Drink specials.

-$2.50 domestic pints.

-$3.50 Monster domestics.

-$2.50 Alaskan Amber pints.

CK’s Tavern and Grill boasts 35 televisions, and despite recently being named Ahwatukee Foothills’ “Best Place To Watch The Game,” owner Kendra Fleetwood is uncertain how many people will show up to watch the matchup between the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts. Local restaurant owners like Fleetwood doubt they’ll see the same turnout as last year when the Arizona Cardinals played the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Regardless, this Super Bowl Sunday, drink and food specials will be in place, and CK’s also will accept reservations for larger parties of seven or more people.

Nello’s Pizza

4710 E. Warner Road

(480) 893-8930

Food specials

-Buy four pizzas, get one free.

-Dining room will be closed, but take out and bar will be available.

-Pasta orders should be called in at least the day before.

Named the area’s “Best Pizza” 10 straight years, Nello’s will begin taking take-out orders at 11 a.m. on Feb. 7. For the Super Bowl, if you buy four pizzas you get one free.

Owner Dan Mei didn’t expect a crowd inside, so he’s closing the dining room for the day to focus on take-out. While he said pizzas could be called in the day of, for pasta items like ziti and lasagna, it’s better to call in days before. Those items can’t be made on a few hours’ notice.

Fired Up Grill

7131 W. Ray Road

(480) 940-4040

Food specials

-$25 ticket for entry to tailgate buffet (hot dogs, bratwurst, two different types of chili, pizza, chips and Coors Light draft included in ticket price).

-Restaurant opens at 11; buffet starts at 3 p.m.

Already the area’s “Best Place To Eat Dinner” and “Best Evening Out,” Fired Up Grill is hosting a tailgate buffet Sunday to try and generate day-time business for the big game. For $25, patrons can fill up on hot dogs, bratwursts, chili, pizza, chips and beer – all included in the price.

The management will be bringing in several TVs, including a large projection setup to accommodate the crowd, while Sky Vodka will be on hand offering promotions to those in attendance.

Native New Yorker’s busiest wing day of the year won’t be featuring specials on traditional chicken wing fare. That’s because of how expensive wings are to order for the restaurant during the high-demand weekend, owner Rod Ticknor said.

“We’re prepared to take in walk-in orders of 100 to 200 wings,” Ticknor said. Between the two Ahwatukee Foothills locations, he said they sell about 30,000 wings on Super Bowl Sunday.

However, those seeking deals on chicken can find a coupon for a free half-pound of their wing-style chicken tenders online at www.nativestylestrippers.com. The tenders, unveiled about two weeks ago, are cooked with the same sauces as traditional and boneless wings.

Drink specials include 22 ounces of New Belgium seasonal for $3.50 and 22 ounces of Blue Moon for $3.50 at the Ray Road location.

Loco Patron

1327 E. Chandler Blvd., Suite 108

(480) 460-8887

Food specials

-$1 tacos all day long.

Drink specials

-50-cent drafts while they last.

-$10 buckets of Tecate, Tecate Light, Coors, Miller Lite.

-Will have games and prizes, including gift certificates for the restaurant.

Loco Patron’s Super Bowl Sundays have not been traditionally busy, said general manager Jeff Pivin, due to not being able to properly promote their specials.

This year, they’re attempting to change that with prizes, specials and Coors Light girls. Loco Patron will have 50-cent drafts while they last as well as $10 buckets of Tecate, Tecate Light, Coors and Miller Lite. One-dollar tacos also will be offered all day.

Christopher Ogino is interning this semester for the Ahwatukee Foothills News. He is a senior at Arizona State University.